Jason Griffith, who’s voiced Sonic and Shadow in the video games, offers advice to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 star Keanu Reeves.

Voice actor Jason Griffith is happy to see Keanu Reeves getting the role of Shadow the Hedgehog. Following the news that Reeves would voice Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Griffith offered some support and advice to the actor, sharing how that was actually his own top choice for the part.

“Shadow is now being voiced by Ted Theodore Logan, John Wick, and Neo, so, I think that’s pretty good company to keep. I think it’s an excellent casting choice myself.” Griffith told TMZ. “People would ask me, who did I think it would be, if it were me. I said, I hope it’s Keanu. I think even just his natural speaking voice lends itself to Shadow so well, that it’s a great choice.”

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Griffith voiced Sonic and Shadow in a series of Sonic the Hedgehog video games released between 2005 and 2010. He also voiced the characters for the English dub of the anime Sonic X. While Tails voice actor Colleen O’Shaughnessey took on the role in the Sonic movies after first playing the character in video games, Griffith confirmed he wasn’t asked, but he was happy to see Reeves take over the role. He went on to share some advice to Reeves for his Shadow portrayal.

“To share that character with someone like Keanu, it’s such an honor,” he said. “I really think they want to keep it fresh, want to keep everything new, and it’s a changing of the guard, if you will. Keanu, I think is a great addition because, being Keanu, he’s going to bring in such huge numbers alone.”

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On the advice he had for how to play Sonic, Griffith continued, “Dig deep into your darkest place in your soul, and speak from there, but not evil. It’s not evil. Shadow is more of an anti-hero. He’s not a Dr. Robotnik, or an Eggman-type character. He wants the greatest good, but he comes from this place of shadows. So, the biggest tip I would give is to, just be yourself, Keanu.”

Keanu Reeves Joins the Voice Cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Ben Schwartz voices the titular character in the Sonic the Hedgehog films, and he’s back to reprise the role for the third installment. Idris Elba is also featured in the role of Knuckles, who stars in his own spinoff series releasing on Paramount+ on April 26.

After it was revealed that Krysten Ritter joined the cast, there were rumors that she’d be voicing the role of Rouge the Bat, though this hasn’t been confirmed.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024.